2. lake eutrophication mechanism and its environmental impact · 2. lake eutrophication mechanism...

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2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact This chapter introduces the problems generated by algae bloom, red tide and blue tide in lakes, inland seas and inner bays, the eutrophication mechanism, pollutant load sources, water sources, and the impact of eutrophication on agriculture and recreation. 2-1 Problems concerning Water Supply, Landscape, Fishery, Agriculture and Other Issues Caused by Eutrophication 2-1-1 Water Supply (1) Inhibition through the Coagulation Process Elimination of suspended solids (SS) from raw water taken from eutrophic lakes and reservoirs requires the coagulation process. Coagulants, such as aluminum sulfate, will have to be increased proportionately to the SS proliferation. Growth of algae inhibits coagulation by raising the pH level. For this reason, algae proliferation not only requires coagulants in quantity, but also may hinder the coagulation process. In addition, the green algae that form the water bloom tend to float, which means that they may flow out rather than settle. (2) Trihalomethane Production Pre-chlorination is sometimes practiced to ensure sufficient chlorine disinfection by averting the obstacles to coagulation and filtering. In this process, hypochlorous acid (HC1O) reacts with organic matters derived from algae to form trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) that are suspected of being carcinogens. Animal tests have demonstrated that, among them, chloroform and bromodichloromethane are carcinogenic, which suggest that they are very likely to be so for humans. The Waterworks Law stipulates the Water Quality Standards of Drinking Water for all four substances as well as their total value (total trihalomethanes) as 0.1 mg/l. (3) Clogging of Filter Basins and Screens Algae bloom triggered by eutrophication clogs the filter basins and screens. The clogging-causing algae are not limited to Cyanophyceae known as forming water bloom: outbreaks of Bacillariophtceae, such as Synedra and Melosira genera, are also found to cause blocking. (4) Odor and Taste Impairment Algae outbreaks caused by eutrophication can impart unpleasant odors to drinking water. Some are effused by algae directly; others are produced through the decomposing process of dead algae, effected by actinomycetes and bacteria. The algae-produced odors are caused by 2-MIB (2-Methylisoborneol) and Geosmin, which are found to be effused respectively by Phormidium tenue, Oscillatoria and Anabaena genera. (5) Iron and Manganese Problem 2

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Page 1: 2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact · 2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact This chapter introduces the problems generated by algae

2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact

This chapter introduces the problems generated by algae bloom, red tide and blue tide in lakes, inland seas and inner

bays, the eutrophication mechanism, pollutant load sources, water sources, and the impact of eutrophication on

agriculture and recreation.

2-1 Problems concerning Water Supply, Landscape, Fishery, Agriculture and Other Issues Caused by

Eutrophication

2-1-1 Water Supply

(1) Inhibition through the Coagulation Process

Elimination of suspended solids (SS) from raw water taken from eutrophic lakes and reservoirs requires the coagulation

process. Coagulants, such as aluminum sulfate, will have to be increased proportionately to the SS proliferation.

Growth of algae inhibits coagulation by raising the pH level. For this reason, algae proliferation not only requires

coagulants in quantity, but also may hinder the coagulation process. In addition, the green algae that form the water

bloom tend to float, which means that they may flow out rather than settle.

(2) Trihalomethane Production

Pre-chlorination is sometimes practiced to ensure sufficient chlorine disinfection by averting the obstacles to

coagulation and filtering. In this process, hypochlorous acid (HC1O) reacts with organic matters derived from algae to

form trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) that are suspected

of being carcinogens. Animal tests have demonstrated that, among them, chloroform and bromodichloromethane are

carcinogenic, which suggest that they are very likely to be so for humans. The Waterworks Law stipulates the Water

Quality Standards of Drinking Water for all four substances as well as their total value (total trihalomethanes) as 0.1

mg/l.

(3) Clogging of Filter Basins and Screens

Algae bloom triggered by eutrophication clogs the filter basins and screens. The clogging-causing algae are not

limited to Cyanophyceae known as forming water bloom: outbreaks of Bacillariophtceae, such as Synedra and Melosira

genera, are also found to cause blocking.

(4) Odor and Taste Impairment

Algae outbreaks caused by eutrophication can impart unpleasant odors to drinking water. Some are effused by algae

directly; others are produced through the decomposing process of dead algae, effected by actinomycetes and bacteria.

The algae-produced odors are caused by 2-MIB (2-Methylisoborneol) and Geosmin, which are found to be effused

respectively by Phormidium tenue, Oscillatoria and Anabaena genera.

(5) Iron and Manganese Problem

2

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A massive amount of microscopically small algae spawned by eutrophication, when dead, settle out on the bottom to

undergo bacterial decomposition. As a result, the bottom layer becomes anaerobic, causing iron and manganese

elution from the bottom sludge. These metals in the tap water can stain laundries and impair the water taste.

Consequently, they need to be eliminated through a water purification process. Among the water-coloring metals, the

Water Quality Standard of Drinking Water under the Waterworks Law in Japan regulates manganese and aluminum as

the Items Relating to the Comfortableness of Water Quality. Furthermore, the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water

Quality sets guideline values for aluminum, copper, iron, and manganese.

2-1-2 Landscape and Recreation

Advancing eutrophication spawns the algae, which reduces the transparency by coloring the lakes green when

dominated by blue-green algae and brown when dominated by diatoms. Such a phenomenon significantly disfigures

the water environment. When the algae bloom forms a surface scum, the lake is unfit for recreation activities, such as

swimming, water-skiing, and boating. The obvious reason is dangerousness due to the invisibility of the underwater.

In addition, it is of great importance to remember the toxins released by Cyanophyceae which humans may be exposed

to. An actual case is reported from England where soldiers became ill after canoe-training in water with a heavy

bloom of Microcystis. Water bloom effuses a unique odor, which spoils the area for walks and hiking. Furthermore,

foul odors from decomposing algae as well as the hydrogen sulfide smell from the anaerobic bottom layer caused by the

decomposition deteriorates not only the recreational environment but also the living environment of the neighboring

communities.

2-1-3 Agriculture and Fisheries

A certain degree of fertility has the favorable effect of raising the fish catch: the enhanced reproduction of algae

consequently increases zooplanktons that feed fish. On the other hand, advanced eutrophication repels premium fish,

such as salmon and trout, whose absence is filled by commercially valueless fish, thus degrading fishery profitability.

Moreover, eutrophication affects the composition of predators and decomposers, transforming the biota into that viable

within an over-fertile environment. In lakes and inner bays, eutrophication deprives the fish of their arena for

reproduction by developing anoxic conditions: juvenile fish are vulnerable to external conditions which adult fish are

resistant to. As a consequence, the fish population drops.

Water irrigated from eutrophic lakes and rivers has an adverse effect on crop production. Nitrogen in particular

damages significantly by slashing the rice yield through overgrowth, lodging, poor maturation, and frequent pest

outbreak. It is normally considered that 1 mg/l of nitrogen is harmless, whereas a level exceeding 5 mg/l causes grave

problems.When mostly-toxigenic cyanobacteria bloom at the water sources in pasture, livestock may develop health

disorders by drinking infested water. Cases of a lethal cyanobacterial intoxication of livestock including cattle, sheep,

pigs, and fowl have been reported from Australia and the U.S.

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2-2 Characteristics of Algae Spawn by Eutrophication

(1) Microcystis Genus

Among the Microcystis group, M. aeruginosa, M.

flos-aquae, M. viridis, and M. wesenbergii emerge

in lakes and reservoirs that provide raw water for

water works. M. aeruginos and M. flos-aquae in

particular bloom in heavily-polluted water areas.

A representative of the Microcystis species, M.

aeruginosa (shown in Photo 2-2-1), has a cell of 3-7

µm in diameter with a gas vesicle, which renders the alga floating. It is characterized by an

amorphous colony of gelatinoid-coated cells. This

genus can be described as suspending cyanobacteria

emerging in heavily over-fertile lakes around the

world. Being resistant to organic pollutants, the

Microcystis quite frequently appear in aerated lagoons. They proliferate in summer, and form a water-bloom mat on

the water surface. Grave concern has arisen from the problems caused by Microcystis species, such as offensive

odor/taste and suppressed coagulation of dispersed cells through their reaction with chlorine in the water purification

process. Furthermore, they produce microcystin that causes liver disorder in humans and animals. The water from

the Microcystis-infected source needs particular attention to ensure the removal of microcystin through the purification

process.

Photo 2-2-1 Micrograph of Microcystis aeruginosa

(2) Anabaena Genus

Among the Anabaena genus, A. spiroides, A. macrospora, A. circinalis, and A. flos-aquae emerge in lakes and

reservoirs that supply raw water for water works. A representative of the Anabaena species, A. spiroides (shown in

Photo 2-2-2), has a cell of 4.5-10 µm in diameter with its vegetative cell linked together to form a

chain. This species is characterized by its idioblast

of φ 4.5-10 µm globe among the cells, an intracellular gas vesicle, and its regular spiral shape.

This is also called nostac, which commonly appear

in polluted lakes in various regions. Being a

suspending Cyanophyceae, this alga often forms

water bloom. The chlorination in the purification

process disperses the cells of the Anabaena species,

which easily pass through the filter basins and thus

cause problems. Some Anabaena algae effuse Photo 2-2-2 Micrograph of Anabaena spiroides

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fungus smell, and others release hepatotoxic microcystin and neurotoxic anatoxins. This genus is also known as

nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

(3) Oscillatoria Genus

Among the Oscillatoria genus (shown in Photo 2-2-3),

O. tenuis and O. agardhii emerge in lakes and

reservoirs that supply raw water for water works. A

representative of the Oscillatoria species O. tenuis has

a cell of 2-5 µm in length and 2.5-3 µm in width, with a cell length approximately double its width.

Oscillatoria is a typical filamentous cyanobacterium

occurring as a single trichome or a colony of

accumulated trichomes. In the past, the dominant

species in summer in Lake Kasumigaura was the

Microcystis, which has been replaced by the

Oscillatoria since 1987. Being reproductive under

low temperatures, Oscillatoria algae appear even in winter and deteriorate the water quality. Proliferation of these

species undermines coagulation in the water purification process, and consequently causes problems since they pass

through the filter basins. Many of the Oscillatoria algae discharge fusty odors. Some also release hepatotoxic

microcystin.

Photo 2-2-3 Micrograph of Oscillatoria sp.

(4) Phormidium Genus

Among the Phormidium genus, P. tenue and P.

mucicola emerge in lakes and reservoirs that supply

raw water for water works. A representative of the

Phormidium species, P. tenue (shown in Photo 2-2-4),

has a cell of 2.5-5 µm in length and 1-2 µm in width. This species are characterized by its sheathed cell, cell

connections with no constrictions, a cell length three

to four times the size of its width, and by

indigo-colored cell. Though looking similar to the

Oscillatoria genus, the Phormidium can be identified

by its mucoid sheath. Being a saprobic

cyanobacterium, P. tenue commonly occur in lakes

either by attaching to gravels in the water areas or floating in the water. Being a major contributor to imparting a fusty

odor to the drinking water, this alga is a targeted substance in the water purification process.

Photo 2-2-4 Micrograph of Phormidium sp.(center)

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2-3 Eutrophication Mechanism

Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential elements for the algae, bacteria, protozoa, metazoa, and Pisces that comprise the

hydrospheric ecosystem. Excessive inflow of these elements, however, eutrophicates lakes and sea areas. Efforts to

remedy the organic pollution of water areas in Japan always focused on abating the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

level of household and industrial wastewaters. As a result, organic pollution was positively relieved. At the same

time, however, the influx of nitrogen and phosphate exempt from the wastewater treatment process raised their

concentrations in the public water areas, which triggered frequent outbreak of Microcystis and red tide (see Fig. 2-3-1).

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Domestic wastewaterIndustrial wastewater

Enclosed water bodies

Mortality of fish

Offensive odor

Input of nitrogen andphosphorus

Increase ofprimary

production

Red tide

Toxic cyanobacteria

point source point source

Fig. 2-3-1 Eutrophication prosesses

Non-point sources from farmland etc.

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Algae bloom extensively in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs, such as Lake Kasumigaura, Lake Teganuma, Lake

Inbanuma, and Lake Suwa in Japan, mainly in the summer. The major constituent of algae bloom is cyanobacteria

represented by Microcystis, Anabaena, and Oscillatoria genera. Under the right temperature and light conditions,

these algae propagate through absorbing nitrogen from nitric and ammonium ions and phosphorus from phosphate ions.

Nutritive salts are provided to algae mainly by influx from influent rivers, recurrence from the bottom layer associated

with the bacterial decomposition of excreta and zooplankton, elution from the bottom sludge, and rainfall. The

reproductive rate of algae greatly depends on optical intensity, water temperature, and nitrogen and phosphorus

concentrations. In addition to blue-green algae, green algae and diatoms emerge in hypertrophic lakes and reservoirs,

where the dominant species changes by the season. Such a changeover takes place because each algae species has

different reproductive properties respecting the nutritive salt concentration, the illumination, and the temperature, which

determine the most suitable algae to dominate under changing environmental conditions. The blue-green algae are

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found not to generally dominate under an oligotrophic environment, because their reproductivity is low or null in the

oligotrophic water. It was reported that Microcystis, a typical cyanobacterium, dominates the lakes when the total

nitrogen and the total phosphorus are over 0.5 mg/l and over 0.08 mg/l, respectively.

In Japan 211 lakes were surveyed, with nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations as parameters, to clarify the elements

that determine the dominant species. The results of this study reported that more lakes are dominated by the

Cyanophyceae when total nitrogen and total phosphorus respectively exceed 0.39 mg/l and 0.035 mg/l. Temperature

is also an important environmental factor for cyanobacterial reproduction: a typical blue-green alga Microcystis that

constitutes water bloom becomes a dominant species mostly around summer.

Due to their shape, e.g., colonies of cells as for Microcystis and filamentous shape as for Oscillatoria, the blue-green

algae are not susceptible to being eaten by zooplankton, which is also a contributing factor for the algae to dominate.

Furthermore, cyanobacteria can float due to their intracellular gas vesicles. When they dominate the lake, the

blue-green algae cluster on the surface, which sharply attenuates the underwater sunlight to block the insolation of other

algae. Such a floating property accelerates the domination of the cyanobacteria, unless wind or other phenomena stirs

the lake.

2-4 Pollutant Sources (Point and Non-Point) for Eutrophication and the Significance of Control

Measures

2-4-1 Point-Source and Non-Point-Source Loads

The typical suppliers of nitrogen and phosphate to the public water areas, such as lakes, sea areas, and rivers, are

effluent and its treated wastewater from factories and other industries, households, livestock, and fish farms, where the

pollutant source can be located. In addition to these pinpointed ones, pollutants flow in from unlocated sources such

as the influx from urban areas, spillage from industrial waste treatment facilities, leakage from illegally dumped waste,

excrement associated with pasturage, and the influx from forests, farmlands, golf courses, and other areas. The

common pollutants among many of these sources are organic matters, nitrogen and phosphate. The former type of

pollutant source is called point source, whereas the latter is called non-point source.

2-4-2 Varieties of Point Sources and their Control

The point-source load is a pollutant discharged from the pinpointed pollution source. Since the point sources are

already located, it is possible to control the pollutant loads from these sources. Among the point sources are sewage

treatment water, treated industrial wastewater, household effluent, livestock wastewater, and fish farming water.

Point-source effluent such as sewage treatment water and industrial wastewater is regulated under set effluent standards

in various countries.

Among the point sources, the highest pollution load comes from household effluent. The basic units of organic

materials, nitrogen, and phosphorus derived from miscellaneous household effluent (domestic wastewater exclusive of

excrement) are set as 27 g/person/day for BOD, 2 g/person/day for total nitrogen (TN), and 0.4 g/person/day for total

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phosphorus (TP), respectively (shown in Fig. 2-4-1). At the same time, the basic units of the same substances derived

from excrement are set as 13 g/person/day for BOD, 8 g/person/day for TN, and 0.6 g/person/day for TP, respectively.

It is clearly demonstrated that the nitrogen and phosphorus loads from excrement are higher. For this reason, the

livestock excreta and washing water of farm corrals contaminates the water significantly. The pollutants drained from

corrals are organic substances, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The basic load units per adult farm animal are presented in

Table 2-4-1. The table shows that the excreta produced per head per day is 5.4 kg by pigs and 50 kg by cattle, both of

which are much larger than 1.5 kg by human.

Livestock wastewater is characterized by a

high contamination load, a substantial share

of pollutants as feces, high pollutant

concentrations, biological treatability, high

nitrogen concentrations, and a strongly

offensive odor. Pre-elimination of feces at farm corrals can significantly cut down the pollutant concentrations in

livestock wastewater. Some water areas suffer from a high pollutant load derived from fisheries, such as fish farming.

The contaminants originating from fish cultivation with net cages are organic matters, nitrogen, and phosphorus eluted

from the fish foods.

At Lake Kasumigaura,

influx of untreated domestic wastewater from areas without either a sewerage treatment system or private sewerage

treatment tanks imposes such a heavy point-source load. When flowing into canals and rivers, improperly treated

the contamination loads originating from carp breeding shares 7.4 % of the COD, 8.3 % of the

itrogen, and 20.3 % of the phosphorus, which manifests a larger percentage in the phosphorus figure. In the said lake,

ommands 45 % of the

Fig. 2-4-1 Po llution sources from domestic water use

150

50

27

132.0

8.0

0.4

0.6

BOD T-N T-P

Gray watr Sewage

Volume of wastewater

unit: Volume of wastewater(L・person-1・day-1) Others (g・person-1・day-1) 

Table 2-4-1 Basic Units of Livestock Pollution Loads

Livestock BOD (g/d) N (g/d) P (g/d)

Pig

Cattle

130

800

37

290

14.7

54

n

the pollution loads from point sources account for 55 % in the organic matters (COD), 58 % in the nitrogen, and 77 %

in the phosphorus, which also indicates a higher share in the phosphorus load (see Fig. 2-4-2).

Breakdown of the point sources shows that the highest share is from household effluent, which c

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phosphorus load. As for the organic matter and nitrogen, livestock effluent accounts for approximately 10 %, the

sources is wastewater

eatment at source, which includes sewer system development, widespread installation of private sewage systems in

second largest after household wastewater. Among the phosphorus sources, the fisheries drain is the second largest,

sharing approximately 20 %, after the household effluent. The survey at Lake Biwa showed similar results, where the

point sources accounted for 53.1 %, 45.3 %, and 68.4 % of organic matters (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus,

respectively, demonstrating a higher share in the phosphorus load just as in Lake Kasumigaura.

It is needless to say that the most crucial measure to control the pollutants from the point

tr

the areas where a sewer service is unavailable, and the development of decontamination facilities for various industrial

wastewaters. Many countries around the globe, including Japan, set effluent standards to control the point-sourced

pollutants. The Japanese standards for eutrophicating nitrogen and phosphorus, however, are 120 mg/l and 16 mg/l,

respectively, much too lenient against the actual nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in water areas to prevent

eutrophication. When such a nationwide uniform standard is inadequate to achieve a healthy environment, each

prefecture can tighten standards by enacting its own ordinance for standards. For example, the Ordinance to Prevent

Eutrophication of Lake Kasumigaura sets add-on standards for nitrogen and phosphorus, as shown in Table 2-4-2.

The levels of nitrogen and phosphorus standards depend on the industry, the business size, and establishment year (pre-

or post-ordinance). The tightened nitrogen and phosphorus standards for large-scale sewage treatment plants are 15

mg/l-1 and 0.5 mg/l, respectively, which are much more rigorous than the nationwide uniform effluent standards of 120

mg/l and 16 mg/l.

Fig. 2-4-2 of Lake Kasumigaura

domestic waste water indust aste water livestock waste water

non-po

CODMn T-N T-P

int source fishery

rial w

Pollution source

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Table 2-4-2 Voluntary control standards based on the eutrophication control regulation

of Lake Kasumigaura

new existing

classifications Volume of effluent(m3 day-1) N P N P

Food manufacturing industry 20≦V≦50 20 2 25 4

50≦V≦500 15 1.5 20 3

500<V 10 1 15 2

Metal products manufacturing 20≦V≦50 20 2 30 3

industry 50≦V≦500 15 1 20 2

500<V 10 0.5 15 1

Other manufacturing 20≦V≦50 12 1 15 1.5

industry 50≦V≦500 10 0.5 12 1.2

500<V 8 0.5 10 1

Livestock industry 20≦V≦50 25 3 50 5

50≦V≦500 15 2 40 5

500<V 10 1 30 3

Sewerage 20≦V≦100000 20 1 20 1

100000<V 15 0.5 15 0.5

Sewage disposal 20≦V 10 1 20 2

Septic tank 20≦V 15 2 20 4

Other industry 20≦V≦50 20 3 30 4

50≦V≦500 15 2 25 4

500<V 10 1 20 3

Kitchen wastewater contains a massive amount of organic matters and SS, providing a large share of the contaminants

from household effluent. In this sense, household effluent control, in particular from kitchen wastewater, plays a vital

role in conserving the water environment. Against this backdrop, the Water Pollution Control Law was amended in

1990, which defined the responsibility of both administration and citizens concerning the domestic wastewater control

by introducing tighter control measures. Household wastewater is closely related to everyday life. For this reason,

the revised law suggested various practical measures at every kitchen, such as not to drain waste oil but to dispose of it

as a solid waste by impregnating it with paper or solidifying it with commercially available coagulant, to stop directly

draining the food garbage and kitchen refuse by filtering them out by a sink-corner basket or a drainer bag at the kitchen

sink outlet, and to avoid excessive use of detergents. These measures in the kitchen are part of the environmental

conservation campaign participated in by citizens, and they are considered to potentially reduce the pollutant load by

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30-50 %. In Japan, the government’s responsibility is legislated as designation of the important areas for domestic

wastewater measures and formulation of a promotion plan for domestic wastewater measures. The important area for

domestic wastewater measures is the area designated by the Governors of the prefectures when they recognize that it is

particularly necessary to promote the implementation of measures for domestic wastewater. Municipalities designated

as the important areas for domestic wastewater measures shall draw up the Plan for Promotion of Implementation of

Domestic Wastewater Measures.

Effluent concentration regulation alone is not sufficient to remedy an expansive closed water area; it requires reduction

of the total volume of pollution loads. On this account, a total effluent control system was institutionalized through

the 1978 amendment of the Water pollution Control Law and the Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation

of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea, aiming to reduce the total pollutant volume in such areas. Under this

system, Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, and Seto Inland Sea were specified as targets of standardized measures for effective

pollution load reduction in order to control the total pollutant volume to within certain limits. The System was

implemented in four sets of programs. On all four occasions, the system regulated COD only, where the figures of

internal products by nitrogen and phosphorus were not reduced with any effect. Against this backdrop, a new fifth

total effluent control system now regulates nitrogen and phosphorus as well.

The composition and concentration of organic matters, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the factory and other industrial

effluent substantially differs from business to business. Organic wastewater is generally treated with activated sludge.

For the organic wastewater with hazardous components, the coagulating sediment method and neutralization are first

applied to eliminate the noxious matters, after which the wastewater is biologically treated, such as by the activated

sludge method. Inorganic wastewater with toxic matters undergoes treatment by the coagulating sediment method and

chemical treatment. In Japan, private sewage treatment systems at individual households is now under more stringent

regulations: Tsuchiura City in Ibaraki Prefecture further limits the effluent from septic tanks at individual detached

houses down to BOD 10 mg/l, T-N 10 mg/l, and T-P 1 mg/l.

2-4-3 Varieties of Non-Point Sources and their Control

Non-point sources are those that are not categorized by their point source: non-point sources include farmlands, forests,

and urban areas (see Fig. 2-4-3). It is called non-point because the sources spread areawide: such as outflow of

fertilizers and agrochemicals from farmlands; rainfall containing atmospheric pollutants; pollutants such as exhaust

gases, particulates and industrial dusts accumulated on the roofs, roads, and grounds of urban areas; outflow from

animal excreta and bodies and fallen leaves; heavy metal outflow from mining areas; and effluent of contaminants from

forests. The non-point pollutant sources are not pinpointed, but are spread all over the catchment area of water bodies.

Pollutants from these sources escape from the sewage treatment in the watershed, and flow into influent rivers or

directly into the lakes via canals or groundwater. The exact outflow points are unspecified, which makes it generally

difficult to control them. The problematic pollutants from the non-point sources that load the water areas include

organic materials, nitrogen, phosphorus, and agrochemicals. Some of the important factors of the non-point-source

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loads that flow into the watershed are, for instance, natural phosphate eluted from the soil in the basin and nitrogen and

phosphate fed as fertilizer to farmland. Typical land use patterns that facilitate non-point pollutant sources are stock

farming, forestry, and agriculture. In addition, soil and topsoil erosions trigger a massive nitrogen and phosphorus

influx. Since the point sources are easier to control, implementation of measures against them tends to proceed

importance of control measures for these sources. Nevertheless, pollutants from non-point sources flow from

numerous outflow points into rivers and lakes, which makes their control a severe challenge. Ensuring safe water use

and a sustainable water environment requires a stepwise approach: first, to hydrologically understand and analyze the

actual qualitative, quantitative, and environmental states of water, such as contaminant levels, pollution load volumes,

water volume, rainfall, and geographic conditions, in order to set an effective target for water area remedy and

conservation, and then to formulate and implement a strategy to reduce the pollutant loads before their influx into the

water area.

smoothly. In this case, the non-point sources come to share a relatively larger portion of the pollutants, raising the

Forest conservation plays a vital role in arresting the pol tion load on the water area. Forest functions as flood

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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��������������

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Urban area

Forest

Field

������������������������������������������������

Mining station

Rain

Fig. 2-4-3 Non-point sources

lu

regulator, drought reliever, climate and temperature moderator, water purifier, and global warming mitigator though

CO2 absorption. Yet forests, especially in the tropical developing countries, have continued to diminish/deteriorate.

Being often attributable to social and economic factors of communities, such as overpopulation, economic difficulties,

12

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and land use, deforestation remains a difficult problem to prevent. The non-point sources are now considered to

account for about 20 % of the total pollution load, although more accurate inventory should potentially raise its share.

For this reason, it is crucial to implement more rigorous and efficient control over the non-point sources in the future.

In Lake Kasumigaura, the pollution loads from point sources account for 44 % in the organic matters (COD), 42 % in

nitrogen, and phosphorus from the non-point sources (Table 2-4-3). The table illuminates the larger loads from urban

he Plan for the Preservation of Lakes and Marsh Water Quality in Lake Kasumigaura lists three strategic approaches

Table 2-4-3 Basic Units Used for Determining the Pollution Load from the Non-Point Sources in Lake Kasumigaura

M (La

reas

the nitrogen, and 23 % in the phosphorus, which demonstrates the higher share in the organic and nitrogen loads (see

Fig. 2-4-2). Smaller phosphorus figures are attributed to their adsorption into the soil when penetrating through it.

Formulation of a water pollution control strategy essentially requires the determination of influx volumes and the

variety of pollutants from each source. As a result, the loads per area are calculated concerning organic matters,

areas than those from any other area. As a due course, urbanization in catchment areas increases the pollution loads

from non-point sources. To be more specific, urbanization accelerates eutrophication. In a paddy field, the nitrate

nitrogen concentration in the groundwater around it increases during the fertilizing period in summer. It rises up to 13

mg/l in June, whereas the figure in January is below 2 mg/l. Paddies can denitrify the nitrate nitrogen to a certain

degree, due to less fertilization needs and the formation of an anaerobic layer by the water covering the field. On the

contrary, a dry field, as a non-point source, imposes large pollution loads due to lack of denitrification attributed to its

substantial fertilization needs and the absence of an anaerobic layer. Vegetables, which are harvested in the middle of

their growth, leave more load-imposing nitrogen in the soil than rice that is harvested after being fully grown.

Samples of calculated load volumes from nitric fertilizer, livestock waste, and household effluent penetrating into the

groundwater are shown in Table 2-4-4.

Item Paddy Field Dry Field Forest / Golf Course Rainfall Urban A

ountain ke Surface)

TN

TP

2.4

.095

2.34

0.116

3.83

1.56

0.054

1.56

0.0

6.95

3.08

0.13

2.4

0.18

COD 7.19

0

2.45 3.83 15.3

T

for non-point pollution source control: promotion of eco-friendly agriculture; restriction of pollutant load outflow from

urban areas; and proper forest management. Promotion of eco-friendly agriculture requires publicizing the current

condition of Lake Kasumigaura and disseminating its decontamination to those engaged in agriculture through PR

campaigns for implementing load abatement measures in partnership with farmers. At the same time, low input

sustainable agriculture is to be implemented, in balance with productivity, where consideration is given to mitigation of

the environmental loads, such as chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals, through soil formation and reasonable crop

rotation. Specific techniques for load reduction list rightsizing the fertilization based on soil test results and promoting

13

Page 13: 2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact · 2. Lake Eutrophication Mechanism and its Environmental Impact This chapter introduces the problems generated by algae

the use of both slow-release and anti-elution fertilizers, among which the most important is optimal fertilization. As

Reference>

yuichi, ed., Microbiology for Environmental Decontamination (Kankyo Joka no tameno biseibutsugaku)

RADA, Ken-ichi, FUJIKI, Hirota, ed., Algae Bloom – their Eruption and Toxin – (Aoko –

of Treatment Capacity through the Biota (Zusetsu

ed by the

for urban area, PR and dissemination campaigns are to be undertaken to establish a partnership with the community

members in cleaning gutters and residential areas to reduce the contaminant outflow from rain. In addition,

storm-water reservoirs for flood control and other pools are to be properly managed. Another important measure is to

reserve as many wide green spaces as possible in newly developed areas. Proper forest management means to reduce

the pollutant outflow by rain from soil erosion and degradation in the deteriorated forests (foothill and plain forest).

Since a properly managed forest substantially contributes to reducing the rainfall load and boosting the water source

rechargeability, forest management and enhancement are identified to play a crucial role in non-point contamination

source control in the Lake Kasumigaura watershed. Nitrogen and phosphorus from farmland and forestry can be

reduced with effect by the land use that minimizes the fertilizer drainage associated with soil erosion and rainfall.

Table 2-4-4 Nitrogen sources into ground water

House discharging effluent throughSewage from livestock

135 kg・ha-1・year-1 37 g・head-1 ・day-1

Fertilizati

6 g・person-1 ・day-1

34 kg ・ ha-1 ・ 3.4 kg・head-1・year-1 26 kg ・ head-1 ・ 1.6 kg ・ person-1 ・

290 g・head-1 ・day-1 Amountof nitrogen discharged

Load to ground water

P le

Amount of nitrogen fertilization was calculated as average amount of Japanese field. for fertilization and livestock.

the

Nitrogen loads into ground water were calculated by 25% leaching into ground water Nitrogen load was calculated for livestock as no nitrogen in sewage was removed. Nitrogen load from house discharging effluent through night soil treatment

-2 -1 system into ground was based on

experiment of soil trench system located in lysimeter treating 50 L・m ・day effluent from night soil treatment system.

ig Catt

night soil treatment system into ground

<

1) SUDOH, R

(Kodansha Scientific, 1983).

2) WATANABE, Mariyo, HA

sono Syutsugen to Dokuso–) (University of Tokyo Press, 1994).

3) SUDOH, Ryuichi, INAMORI, Yuhei, Graphic Diagnosis

Seibutsusoh kara mita Shori Kinoh no Shindan) (Industrial Water Institute (Sangyo Yohsui Chosakai), 1983).

4) TAKAMURA, Noriko, “State of Ecological Study on Water Bloom by Blue-Green Algae Represent

Microcystis Genus (Ranso niyoru Mizu no Hana, Tokuni Microcystis Zoku no Seitaigakuteki Kenkyu no Genjo)” Algae

(Sohrui) vol. 36, pp. 65-79 (1988).

14

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15

MA, Takehiko, INAMORI, Yuhei, SUDOH, Ryuichi, “Analytical Evaluation of the

aura and its Non-Point-Source Pollutants

5) FUJIMOTO, Naoshi, FUKUSHI

Relationship between the Dominance of Cyanobacteria and Aquatic Environmental Factors in Japanese Lakes”,

Journal of Japan Society on Water Environment, vol. 18, pp. 901-908 (1995).

6) SUDOH, Ryuichi, KONUMA, Kazuhiro, “Water Quality of Lake Kasumig

(Kasumigaura no Suishitsu to Mengenfuka)” Environmental Conservation Engineering, vol. 29, pp. 509-515 (2000).